An Attack Tool for Degrading Materials

ABSTRACT

An attack tool for degrading materials is disclosed which comprises a base segment comprising an attachment to a driving mechanism, a first wear-resistant segment bonded to the base segment, a second wear-resistant segment bonded to the first wear-resistant segment at a brazed joint opposite the base segment, and an outer diameter of both the wear-resistant segments proximate the joint comprising a finish ground surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Efficient degradation of materials is important to a variety of industries including the asphalt, mining, and excavation industries. In the asphalt industry, pavement may be degraded using attack tools, and in the mining industry, attack tools may be used to break minerals and rocks. Attack tools may also be used when excavating large amounts of hard materials. In asphalt recycling, often, a drum supporting an array of attack tools attached may be rotated and moved so that the attack tools engage a paved surface causing the tools to wear. Much time is wasted in the asphalt recycling industry due to high wear of the tools, which typically have a tungsten carbide tip.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,087 to Hall et al., which is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains, discloses an attack tool for working natural and man-made materials that is made up of one or more segments, including a steel alloy base segment, an intermediate carbide wear protector segment, and a penetrator segment comprising a carbide substrate that is coated with a superhard material. The segments are joined at continuously curved interfacial surfaces that may be interrupted by grooves, ridges, protrusions, and posts. At least a portion of the curved surfaces vary from one another at about their apex in order to accommodate ease of manufacturing and to concentrate the bonding material in the region of greatest variance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, an attack tool for degrading materials comprises a base segment comprising an attachment to a driving mechanism, a first wear-resistant segment bonded to the base segment, a second wear-resistant segment bonded to the first wear-resistant segment at a brazed joint opposite the base segment, and an outer diameter of both the wear-resistant segments proximate the joint comprising a finish ground surface.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing an attack tool is also disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of providing a first wear-resistant segment and providing a superhard material bonded to a second wear-resistant segment, forming a joint by brazing the first and second wear-resistant segments together, and removing a braze-induced effected zone proximate the brazed joint by grinding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of an attack tool on a rotating drum attached to a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal diagram of an embodiment of a tool and a holder.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a perspective diagram of an embodiment of a tool.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments and a brazed joint.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments and a finish ground surface.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of finish grinding a surface of an attack tool.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of finish grinding a surface of an attack tool.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a finish ground surface.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a finish ground surface.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment and a superhard material bonded to the second wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of sacrificial material at the brazed joint between first and second wear-resistant segments.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a non-planar interface between first and second wear-resistant segments.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment brazed into a pocket of the first wear-resistant segment.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an attack tool.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an attack tool.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an attack tool.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an attack tool.

FIG. 25 is a schematic of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing an attack tool.

FIG. 26 is a schematic of another embodiment of a method for manufacturing an attack tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of embodiments of the methods of the present invention, as represented in the Figures is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various selected embodiments of the invention.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention will best be understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various modifications to the methods described herein may easily be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, as described in connection with the Figures. Thus, the following description of the Figures is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments consistent with the invention as claimed herein.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of an attack tool 101 on a driving mechanism 102 attached to a motor vehicle 103. The driving mechanism 102 may be a rotating drum. The motor vehicle 103 may be a cold planer used to degrade pavement 104 prior to the placement of a new layer of pavement, or a mining vehicle used to degrade natural formations. Tools 101 are attached to a driving mechanism 102 which rotates so the tools 101 engage and degrade the pavement. The pavement 104 may cause substantial wear on attack tools 101. When the tools wear enough, the tools 101 need to be replaced. The maintenance required to replace these tools may be burdensome and costly because of down time.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal diagram of an embodiment of an attack tool 101 secured within a holder 201. The holder may be secured to the driving mechanism 102. The holder 201 may hold the tool 101 at an angle to increase the tool's 101 degradation efficiency. An end of the tool may comprise an attachment 203, such as a shaft. The holder may support the attack tool at an angle offset from the direction of rotation, such that as the tool engages the paved surface that the attack tool rotates within the holder. A sheath 202 may be fitted around the attachment 203 to enable or improve the tool's rotation. Rotation may be beneficial in that it may result in more even wear on the tool 101 instead of having most of the wear concentrated on one side of the tool 101.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a perspective diagram of an embodiment of an attack tool 101. The tool 101 may comprise a base segment 301 which may be made of steel, cemented metal carbide, or combinations thereof. The base segment 301 may comprise an attachment 203, such as the shaft, to a driving mechanism 102. The tool 101 may further comprise a first wear-resistant segment 302 that is bonded to the base segment. The first wear-resistant segment 302 may comprise steel, a cemented metal carbide, tungsten, silicon, niobium, or combinations thereof. A second wear-resistant segment 303, which may comprise steel, a cemented metal carbide, tungsten, silicon, niobium, or combinations thereof, may be bonded to the first wear resistant segment 302 at a brazed joint 304 opposite the base segment.

There may also be a superhard material 305 bonded to the second wear-resistant segment opposite the joint 304. The superhard material 305 may comprise a domed, rounded, semi-rounded, conical, flat, or pointed geometry, and the superhard material may further comprise natural diamond, polycrystalline diamond, boron nitride, or combinations thereof. The superhard material 305 may be bonded to the second wear-resistant segment 303 by high pressure/high temperature, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, or combinations thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303 joined at a brazed joint 304. Preferably the first and second wear resistant segments comprise a cemented metal carbide, preferably tungsten carbide. The brazed joint 304 may comprise a braze material 402 comprising silver, gold, copper, nickel, palladium, boron, chromium, silicon, germanium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, titanium, tin, gallium, vanadium, indium, phosphorus, molybdenum, platinum, or combinations thereof. The braze material 402 may extrude to the outside of the joint 304 when the first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303 are brazed together. Additionally, brazing may result in an effected zone 130 which is indicated by dotted lines 403. An effected zone 130 may be weakened by cracks, depressions, scrapes, or other irregularities and/or imperfections as a result of the brazing. The effected material in either segment may initiate a break especially in embodiments where the segments comprise brittle materials such as tungsten carbide.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303 and a finish ground surface. To mitigate the effects of the effected zone 130, the effected zone 130 is removed. An outer diameter 501 of both the wear-resistant segments 302, 303 proximate the joint 304 may comprise a finish ground surface 504. The first wear-resistant segment 302 may also comprises an outer diameter 310 and an edge 510 joined by a fillet 503. The radius of the fillet 503 may be 0.005 to 0.600 inches and may include a shelf 504. Removing the effected zone 130 may reduce or remove any braze-induced weaknesses in the segments 302, 303.

An additional benefit of a fillet may be that a stress point that results from a 90 degree angle formed by the first and second segments before grinding is reduced. When the segments are ground as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the stress may be distributed away from the joint 304, extending its life.

In such a configuration, surfaces of the attack tool 101, such as the edge 510 and shelf 504, may be susceptible to high wear. A durable coating (not shown) may be bonded to these surfaces susceptible to high wear. The durable coating may comprise diamond, polycrystalline diamond, cubic boron nitride, diamond grit, polycrystalline diamond grit, cubic boron nitride grit, or combinations thereof. The durable coating may be deposited by chemical vapor deposition; physical vapor deposition; blasting diamond grit, polycrystalline diamond grit, cubic boron nitride grit, sintering or combinations thereof.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of finish grinding a surface of an attack tool. After brazing, excess braze material 402 may be ground away, in addition to the effected zone 130, which includes portions of the first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303. A grinding tool 604, such as a dremel, may comprise a grinding element 603 attached to a shaft 601. The element 603 may comprise fine or coarse diamond grit or other materials suitable for grinding. Grinding, however, may leave small cracks, abrasions, grooves, or other irregularities and/or imperfections behind which may weaken the tool 101 when in use, although it is believed to still be an improvement over leaving the effected zone 130 in place. Therefore, the finish ground surface may be polished. Polishing may remove irregularities and/or imperfections. In selected embodiments, grinding, lapping, hand polishing, annealing, sintering, direct firing, wet etching, dry etching, or a combination thereof, may be used to aid in polishing the tool 101. In other embodiments, the tool 101 may be polished in multiple stages. In either case, a layer of material which may comprise the irregularities and/or imperfections may be removed in an effort to strengthen the tool 101.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of finish grinding a surface of an attack tool. The tool 604 may comprise a grinding element 603 attached to a shaft 601. The element 603 may rotate along the shaft's axis 602, and may comprise fine or coarse diamond grit or other material suitable for grinding. The shape of the grinding element 603 may be changed to form different geometries instead of a fillet.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a finish ground surface. The first wear-resistant segment comprises an outer diameter 310 and an edge 510 joined by at least one substantially conic section. The at least one conic section 801, or a shelf 511 may comprise a finish ground surface. In FIG. 8, a conic section 801 and a shelf 511 are used to join the outer diameter 310 and edge 510. The conic section 801 may form obtuse angles with the shelf 511 and outer diameter. These angles may still be stress points, but the stress may be spread between them and be below the brazed joint 304. Polishing may also remove any irregularities and/or imperfections leftover from or created by grinding.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a finish ground surface. A plurality of substantially conic sections may be used to join the outer diameter 310 and edge 510. In FIG. 9, two or more conic sections 801 and a shelf 511 are used. Again, other obtuse angles may be created when multiple conic sections 801 which may serve to further disperse the stresses encountered when the attack tool 101 is in use.

FIGS. 10 through 15 are cross-sectional diagrams of superhard material 303 bonded to second wear-resistant segments 303. FIG. 10 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a rounded geometry. FIG. 11 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a domed geometry. FIG. 12 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a conical geometry. FIG. 13 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a semi-rounded geometry. FIG. 14 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a pointed geometry. FIG. 15 shows a second wear-resistant segment 303 bonded to a superhard material 305 comprising a flat geometry. Each geometry may change the tool's 101 cutting properties. A pointed geometry may allow for more aggressive cutting. While a rounded geometry may reduce wear by distributing stresses and make cutting less aggressive.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a sacrificial area 1601 proximate the brazed joint 304 between first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303. The additional material may be added to the wear-resistant segments 302, 303 for the purpose of being a sacrificial area 1601. After brazing, the effected zone 130, indicated by the dotted lines 403, may be contained in the sacrificial area which may then be ground away to leave the desired shape of the outer surfaces.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a non-planar interface 1701 between first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303. A non-planar interface is also between the second wear-resistant segment 303 and a superhard material 305. A non-planar interface 1701 between the first and second wear-resistant segments at the brazed joint 304 may increase the area of the joint and strengthen the bond. Similarly, a non-planar interface 1701 between the second wear-resistant segment 303 and the superhard material 305 may also strengthen their bond. The non-planar interface between the first and second segments may comprise at least one protrusion 1702 fitted within at least one recess 1703. Other embodiments may include complementary curved surfaces.

In FIG. 18 the second wear-resistant segment 303 may be conical in shape. A conical shape may allow for a smaller tip 1801 while having a larger area to braze at the brazed joint 304. Other embodiments include pyramidal, frustoconical, spherical, helical shapes. Also shown in FIG. 18, is that an effected zone 130 has been removed such that the second segment's outer diameter 1802 increases further away from the tip 1801, but then decreases as it approaches the brazed joint.

In FIG. 19, the second wear-resistant segment 303 is tungsten carbide without a superhard material bonded to it. A tungsten carbide segment may have a non-planar interface 1701 and be brazed to the first wear-resistant segment 302 which may also comprise tungsten carbide. The first segment 302 may be bonded to a base segment 301 comprising an attachment 203 to a driving mechanism 102.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a second wear-resistant segment brazed into a pocket 2001 of the first wear-resistant segment. The pocket 2001 may increase the surface area available for bonding. The brazing process may create an effected zone 130 which may not be entirely removable due to the location of the braze material. Some of the zone 130, indicated by the dotted lines 2003, may be ground to improve strength.

FIGS. 21 through 24 are cross-sectional diagrams of various embodiments of attack tools adapted to remain stationary within their holder which are attached to the driving mechanism 102. The attack tools 101 may comprise a base segment 301 which may comprise steel, or a cemented metal carbide. The attack tools 101 may also comprise first and second wear resistant segments 302, 303 bonded at a joint 304. The joint 304 may also comprise effected zones 130 which may be removed by a finish grinding process. The angle of the superhard material 305 may be altered to change the cutting ability of the stationary tool 2301. Positive or negative rake angles may be used. The layer of superhard material 305 may be from 1 to 6000 microns thick.

FIG. 25 is a schematic of an embodiment of a method 2100 for manufacturing an attack tool 101. The method 2100 may comprise the steps of providing 2101 a first wear-resistant segment 302 and providing a superhard material 305 bonded to a second wear-resistant segment 302, forming 2102 a joint 304 by brazing the first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303 together, and removing 2103 a braze-induced effected zone 130 proximate the brazed joint 304 by grinding.

The wear-resistant segments 302, 303 may comprise steel, a cemented metal carbide, tungsten, niobium, silicon, or combinations thereof. The step for forming 2102 a joint by brazing may comprise using a braze material 402 comprising silver, gold, copper, nickel, palladium, boron, chromium, silicon, germanium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, titanium, tin, gallium, vanadium, indium, phosphorus, molybdenum, platinum, or combinations thereof.

FIG. 26 is a schematic of another embodiment of a method 2200 for manufacturing an attack tool 101. The method 2200 may comprise the steps of providing 2201 a first wear-resistant segment 302 and providing a superhard material 305 bonded to a second wear-resistant segment 302, forming 2202 a joint 304 by brazing the first and second wear-resistant segments 302, 303 together, and removing 2203 a braze-induced effected zone 130 proximate the brazed joint 304 by grinding. The method 2200 may further comprise another step of polishing 2204 an outer diameter formed by removing the braze-induced effected zone 130.

When cracks, ruts, or other similar irregularities and/or imperfections may be left behind from grinding these, irregularities and imperfections may be removed by polishing the finish ground surface 504 which may result in a stronger tool 101. 

1. An attack tool for degrading materials, comprising: a base segment comprising an attachment to a driving mechanism; a first wear-resistant segment bonded to the base segment; a second wear-resistant segment bonded to the first wear-resistant segment at a brazed joint opposite the base segment; and an outer diameter intersecting the brazed joint of both the wear-resistant segments proximate the brazed joint comprising a finish ground surface comprising a fillet.
 2. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein a superhard material is bonded to the second wear-resistant segment opposite the joint.
 3. The attack tool of claim 2, wherein the superhard material comprises a domed, rounded, semi-rounded, conical, flat, or pointed geometry.
 4. The attack tool of claim 2, wherein the superhard material comprises natural diamond, polycrystalline diamond, boron nitride, or combinations thereof.
 5. The attack tool of claim 2, wherein an interface between the superhard material and second wear-resistant segment is non-planar.
 6. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein an interface between the first and second wear-resistant segments is non-planar.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The attack tool of claim 7, wherein the radius of the fillet is 0.005 to 0.600 inches.
 9. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein the first wear-resistant segment comprises an outer diameter and an edge joined by at least one substantially conic section.
 10. The attack tool of claim 9, wherein the at least one substantially conic section comprises a finish ground surface.
 11. The attack tool of claim 1, where the wear-resistant segment comprises steel, a cemented metal carbide, tungsten, silicon, niobium or combinations thereof.
 12. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein the brazed joint comprises a braze material comprising silver, gold, copper, nickel, palladium, boron, chromium, silicon, germanium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, titanium, tin, gallium, vanadium, indium, phosphorus, molybdenum, platinum, or combinations thereof.
 13. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a holder.
 14. The attack tool of claim 13, wherein the attachment comprises a shaft adapted to rotate within the holder.
 15. The attack tool of claim 13, wherein the attachment is fixed to the driving mechanism.
 16. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein the finish ground surface is polished.
 17. The attack tool of claim 1, wherein a durable coating covers surfaces of the base segment.
 18. A method for manufacturing an attack tool, comprising; providing a first wear-resistant segment and providing a superhard material bonded to a second wear-resistant segment; forming a joint by brazing the first and second wear-resistant segments together; and removing a braze-induced effected zone proximate the brazed joint by grinding, which grinding forms a fillet.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method comprises another step of polishing an outer diameter formed by removing the braze-induced effected zone.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the wear-resistant segment comprises steel, a cemented metal carbide, tungsten, niobium, silicon, or combinations thereof.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of forming a joint by brazing comprises using a braze material comprising silver, gold, copper, nickel, palladium, boron, chromium, silicon, germanium, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, titanium, tin, gallium, vanadium, indium, phosphorus, molybdenum, platinum, or combinations thereof. 